Stripping paint from a football facemask, often necessary for repainting or restoration, typically involves using a chemical stripper like Citristrip to break down the existing finish.
Preparing Your Facemask for Stripping
Before you begin the stripping process, ensure you have the necessary supplies and are working in a well-ventilated area.
- Gather Materials: You will need chemical stripper (like Citristrip), a garbage bag, plastic scraper, gloves, and eye protection.
- Safety First: Always wear chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space to avoid inhaling fumes.
The Stripping Process
According to past practices in high school, Citristrip is an effective product for stripping paint off facemasks, even those that have been repainted multiple times. Here's a breakdown of the steps:
- Apply the Stripper: Generously "lather" the facemask with the chemical stripper, ensuring all painted surfaces are covered.
- Bag It Up: Place the coated facemask into a garbage bag.
- Ensure Contact: Press the garbage bag into the stripper on the facemask. This likely helps keep the stripper in contact with the paint and creates a moist environment for the chemical to work.
- Let It Dwell: Allow the facemask to sit inside the bag with the stripper for an extended period, typically 12-24 hours. This dwell time gives the chemical stripper time to penetrate and loosen the paint layers.
- Scrape Away Paint: After the dwell time, use a plastic scraper to remove the loosened paint. A plastic scraper is recommended to avoid scratching the underlying metal of the facemask.
This method is effective at getting the facemask "down to the base layer," preparing it for a new finish.
Why Strip a Facemask?
There are several reasons why you might need to strip a football facemask:
- Repainting: To apply a new color or fresh coat of paint.
- Restoration: Bringing an old or damaged facemask back to its original condition.
- Removing Multiple Layers: As mentioned in the reference, stripping is useful when a facemask has been repainted numerous times and the paint layers have become too thick or uneven.
By following these steps using a suitable chemical stripper and the recommended techniques, you can effectively remove old paint from a football facemask.
